Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for COVID-19: an overview of systematic reviews.

OBJECTIVES: A reappraisal of the validity of the conclusions of systematic reviews (SRs) related to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19. METHODS: An overview of SRs (umbrella review). The methodological quality of the SRs was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 checklist; quality of the evidence from the trials included in each SR was appraised following the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Sixteen SRs with meta-analysis published between 2020 and 2023 were included in this overview. The SRs reported data from 108 overlapping reports, based on 43 individual primary studies [3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), 40 non-RCTs]. In outpatient settings the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduced overall mortality, hospital admission and progression of disease compared with controls (from moderate to low certainty of evidence); nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduced mortality, hospital admission and progression of disease in both immunized and non-immunized patients. No differences in the occurrence of any adverse events between groups were observed in the large majority of SRs; serious adverse events, including adverse events requiring discontinuation of treatment, were reported with lower prevalence in nirmatrelvir recipients compared with controls (from low to moderate certainty of evidence). CONCLUSIONS: There is low to moderate certainty of evidence from SRs that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduces mortality, clinical progression and hospitalization rate in COVID-19 patients compared with controls, without increasing the occurrence of overall and serious adverse events. Based on the overall methodological assessment, on average we can have high confidence in the quality of results generated by the SRs.

Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis E virus infection in blood donors: a nationwide survey in Italy, 2017 to 2019.

BackgroundIn high-income countries, hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is mainly a zoonosis. However, it is also transfusion-transmissible and some countries, but not Italy, have introduced HEV screening for blood donations.AimWe assessed HEV infection prevalence and risk factors in a nationwide sample of Italian blood donors.MethodsWe selected 107 blood establishments (BE) distributed in the 20 Italian regions by a stratified two-stage design and invited them to participate in the study. Donors were tested for anti-HEV IgG and IgM and HEV RNA. Sociodemographic data and risk factors were collected through a questionnaire.ResultsOverall, 60 BE from 60 provinces in 19 Italian regions joined the study. We assessed HEV markers in 7,172 blood donors, of whom 6,235 completed the questionnaire. Overall crude and adjusted anti-HEV IgG prevalences were 8.3% and 5.5%, respectively. Overall anti-HEV IgM prevalence was 0.5%, while no blood donor was HEV RNA-positive. Anti-HEV IgG prevalence varied widely among regions (range: 1.3%-27.20%) and hyperendemic prevalences (> 40%) were detected in some provinces in two regions. Older age (AOR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.36-2.41), foreign nationality (AOR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.06-7.24), eating raw pork liver sausages (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.55-3.20) and raw homemade sausages (AOR = 3.63; 95% CI: 2.50-5.24) were independent infection predictors.ConclusionItalian blood donors showed a low to moderate HEV seroprevalence. High levels in some regions and/or provinces were mainly attributable to eating habits. Prevention should include avoiding consumption of raw or undercooked meat and safe production of commercial pork products.

A forecasting model to estimate the drop in blood supplies during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the number of actually Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected blood donors applying a statistical forecasting model. BACKGROUND: Following the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, a drop in blood donation has been observed. It is crucial to determine the actual number of potential SARS-CoV-2-positive donors to define the measures and ensure adequate blood supply. METHODS: The cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 positivity, calculated on the general population, was applied to the donor population by estimating the number of positive subjects. The calculation model was validated by the linear interpolation method. The number of blood units actually discarded based on post-donation information was also taken into account. RESULTS: Three months after the outbreak, 5322 donors were estimated to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were therefore potentially excluded from donation. A total of units of blood components were discarded following post donation information. The estimated number of donors deceased (180) and the number of clinically recovered individuals in the same period was also considered. CONCLUSION: This forecasting model can be used to obtain information on blood donors' involvement during future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks, especially in case of changes concerning epidemiology, incidence by age bracket and geographical distribution and also for new outbreaks of emerging viruses.

2p15-p16.1 microdeletions encompassing and proximal to BCL11A are associated with elevated HbF in addition to neurologic impairment.

Elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) ameliorates the clinical severity of hemoglobinopathies such as ß-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Currently, the only curative approach for individuals under chronic transfusion/chelation support therapy is allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, recent analyses of heritable variations in HbF levels have provided a new therapeutic target for HbF reactivation: the transcriptional repressor BCL11A. Erythroid-specific BCL11A abrogation is now actively being sought as a therapeutic avenue, but the specific impact of such disruption in humans remains to be determined. Although single nucleotide polymorphisms in BCL11A erythroid regulatory elements have been reported, coding mutations are scarcer. It is thus of great interest that patients have recently been described with microdeletions encompassing BCL11A. These patients display neurodevelopmental abnormalities, but whether they show increased HbF has not been reported. We have examined the hematological phenotype, HbF levels, and erythroid BCL11A expression in 3 such patients. Haploinsufficiency of BCL11A induces only partial developmental γ-globin silencing. Of greater interest is that a patient with a downstream deletion exhibits reduced BCL11A expression and increased HbF. Novel erythroid-specific regulatory elements in this region may be required for normal erythroid BCL11A expression, whereas loss of separate elements in the developing brain may explain the neurological phenotype.

Characterization of the TGF-ß1 signaling abnormalities in the Gata1low mouse model of myelofibrosis.

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is characterized by fibrosis, ineffective hematopoiesis in marrow, and hematopoiesis in extramedullary sites and is associated with abnormal megakaryocyte (MK) development and increased transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 release. To clarify the role of TGF-ß1 in the pathogenesis of this disease, the TGF-ß1 signaling pathway of marrow and spleen of the Gata1(low) mouse model of myelofibrosis (MF) was profiled and the consequences of inhibition of TGF-ß1 signaling on disease manifestations determined. The expression of 20 genes in marrow and 36 genes in spleen of Gata1(low) mice was altered. David-pathway analyses identified alterations of TGF-ß1, Hedgehog, and p53 signaling in marrow and spleen and of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in spleen only and predicted that these alterations would induce consequences consistent with the Gata1(low) phenotype (increased apoptosis and G1 arrest both in marrow and spleen and increased osteoblast differentiation and reduced ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in marrow only). Inhibition of TGF-ß1 signaling normalized the expression of p53-related genes, restoring hematopoiesis and MK development and reducing fibrosis, neovascularization, and osteogenesis in marrow. It also normalized p53/mTOR/Hedgehog-related genes in spleen, reducing extramedullary hematopoiesis. These data identify altered expression signatures of TGF-ß1 signaling that may be responsible for MF in Gata1(low) mice and may represent additional targets for therapeutic intervention in PMF.

CD14+ cells from peripheral blood positively regulate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell survival resulting in increased erythroid yield.

Expansion of erythroblasts from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells is 4- to 15-fold more efficient than that of CD34(+) cells purified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In addition, purified CD34(+) and CD34(-) populations from blood do not reconstitute this erythroid yield, suggesting a role for feeder cells present in blood mononuclear cells that increase hematopoietic output. Immunodepleting peripheral blood mononuclear cells for CD14(+) cells reduced hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell expansion. Conversely, the yield was increased upon co-culture of CD34(+) cells with CD14(+) cells (full contact or transwell assays) or CD34(+) cells re-constituted in conditioned medium from CD14(+) cells. In particular, CD14(++)CD16(+) intermediate monocytes/macrophages enhanced erythroblast outgrowth from CD34(+) cells. No effect of CD14(+) cells on erythroblasts themselves was observed. However, 2 days of co-culturing CD34(+) and CD14(+) cells increased CD34(+) cell numbers and colony-forming units 5-fold. Proliferation assays suggested that CD14(+) cells sustain CD34(+) cell survival but not proliferation. These data identify previously unrecognized erythroid and non-erythroid CD34(-) and CD34(+) populations in blood that contribute to the erythroid yield. A flow cytometry panel containing CD34/CD36 can be used to follow specific stages during CD34(+) differentiation to erythroblasts. We have shown modulation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell survival by CD14(+) cells present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells which can also be found near specific hematopoietic niches in the bone marrow.

Dexamethasone targeted directly to macrophages induces macrophage niches that promote erythroid expansion.

Cultures of human CD34(pos) cells stimulated with erythroid growth factors plus dexamethasone, a model for stress erythropoiesis, generate numerous erythroid cells plus a few macrophages (approx. 3%; 3:1 positive and negative for CD169). Interactions occurring between erythroblasts and macrophages in these cultures and the biological effects associated with these interactions were documented by live phase-contrast videomicroscopy. Macrophages expressed high motility interacting with hundreds/thousands of erythroblasts per hour. CD169(pos) macrophages established multiple rapid 'loose' interactions with proerythroblasts leading to formation of transient erythroblastic island-like structures. By contrast, CD169(neg) macrophages established 'tight' interactions with mature erythroblasts and phagocytosed these cells. 'Loose' interactions of CD169(pos) macrophages were associated with proerythroblast cytokinesis (the M phase of the cell cycle) suggesting that these interactions may promote proerythroblast duplication. This hypothesis was tested by experiments that showed that as few as 103 macrophages significantly increased levels of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide incorporation frequency in S/G2/M and cytokinesis expressed by proerythroblasts over 24 h of culture. These effects were observed also when macrophages were co-cultured with dexamethasone directly conjugated to a macrophage-specific CD163 antibody. In conclusion, in addition to promoting proerythroblast proliferation directly, dexamethasone stimulates expansion of these cells indirectly by stimulating maturation and cytokinesis supporting activity of macrophages.

Mononuclear cells from a rare blood donor, after freezing under good manufacturing practice conditions, generate red blood cells that recapitulate the rare blood phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Cultured red blood cells (cRBCs) from cord blood (CB) have been proposed as transfusion products. Whether buffy coats discarded from blood donations (adult blood [AB]) may be used to generate cRBCs for transfusion has not been investigated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Erythroid progenitor cell content and numbers and blood group antigen profiles of erythroblasts (ERYs) and cRBCs generated in human erythroid massive amplification (HEMA) culture by CB (n = 7) and AB (n = 33, three females, three males, one AB with rare blood antigens cryopreserved using CB protocols) were compared. RESULTS: Variability was observed both in progenitor cell content (twofold) and number of ERYs generated (1 log) by CB and AB in HEMA. The average progenitor cell contents of the subset of AB and CB analyzed were similar. AB generated numbers of ERYs three times lower (p < 0.01) than CB in HEMA containing fetal bovine serum but similar to CB in HEMA containing human proteins. Female AB contained two times fewer (p < 0.05) erythroid progenitor cells but generated numbers of ERYs similar to those generated by male AB. Cryopreserved AB with a rare blood group phenotype and shipped to another laboratory generated great numbers of ERYs, 90% of which matured into cRBCs. Blood group antigen expression was consistent with the donor genotype for ERYs generated both by CB and AB but concordant with that of native RBCs only for cells derived from AB. CONCLUSION: Buffy coats from regular donors, including a donor with rare phenotypes stored under conditions established for CB, are not inferior to CB for the generation of cRBCs.

Platelet rich plasma for facial rejuvenation: an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a non-surgical therapy for facial rejuvenation is increasingly adopted. This article aims to review the literature and critically appraise the available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of PRP for facial rejuvenation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An overview of systematic reviews (SRs) of PRP use for facial rejuvenation. The methodological quality of the SRs was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 checklist; quality of the evidence from the trials included in each SR was appraised following the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Thirteen SRs published between 2015 and 2023, reporting data from 114 overlapping reports, based on 28 individual primary studies (18 uncontrolled reports), were included in this umbrella review. Eight primary studies evaluated PRP in combination with other treatments (laser therapy, fat grafting, hyaluronic acid, basic fibroblast growth factor), and 20 PRP monotherapy. Most of the included primary studies were uncontrolled, and meta-analysis for outcomes related to facial rejuvenation was conducted in only 1 of the 13 SRs, showing that patients treated with PRP as an adjunct treatment have increased satisfaction over controls without PRP (mean difference, 0.63; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.25/1; p=0-001; low certainty of evidence due to risk of bias (ROB) and inconsistency). No other quantitative data were available from the SRs, although 4 SRs concluded in a descriptive way reveal that PRP combined with laser therapy increased subject satisfaction and skin elasticity, and decreased the erythema index (very low certainty of evidence due to imprecision, unsystematic clinical observations, and ROB). The occurrence of adverse events was a predefined outcome in only 2 SRs (15%). Almost all the SRs demonstrated poor compliance with the AMSTAR 2 items, and the confidence in the results of SRs was graded as low or critically low in 12 of the 13 SRs. DISCUSSION: The available evidence is insufficient to suggest firm conclusions about the use of PRP, alone or in combination with other treatments, in promoting facial rejuvenation.

A survey on the implementation of Patient Blood Management programs in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Since 2012, in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) resolution WHA63.12 of 05/21/2010, the Italian National Blood Center has been promoting patient blood management (PBM). In order to verify the level of PBM implementation nationwide, we submitted a survey to all healthcare providers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In line with what was proposed in the international scientific literature in the field, a series of indicators were used derived from the four main blocks related to PBM strategies: the management of patient anemia; the optimization of hemostasis; blood conservation strategies; patient-centred decision-making. We also added two blocks containing important information on general PBM management and other PBM-related aspects. RESULTS: The survey showed good implementation of anemia screening programs in accordance with the timelines established by national and international guidelines, and the single unit policy is used in line with national guideline recommendations. However, the survey also revealed limited auditing of PBM programs and reduced monitoring and reporting of clinical outcomes and indicators. DISCUSSION: The first national survey on the level of PBM implementation in Italy shows widespread adoption of diagnostic-therapeutic care pathways aimed at the diagnosis and treatment of anemia in the perioperative setting.

SARS-CoV-2 infection rebound among patients receiving antiviral agents, convalescent plasma, or no treatment: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is some evidence showing rebound of COVID-19 infections in patients treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir between 2 and 8 days following cessation of the antiviral treatment. COVID-19 rebound is not unique to patients treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, but is also observed in molnupiravir recipients, in patients who did not receive any antiviral treatment and in patients who received convalescent plasma (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a systematic review with meta-analysis of clinical trials evaluating rates of virologic and clinical rebound in COVID-19 patients receiving antiviral agents, CP or no treatment. Both randomized clinical trials and controlled cohort studies were considered. The methodological quality of trials was assessed using ROB-2 and ROBIN-1 checklists, and the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Data were available from 16 trials. The occurrence of virologic rebound was more commonly observed among nirmatrelvir recipients than among untreated patients (relative risk [RR]=2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38-3.28; p=0.0007). No differences were observed in the occurrence of virologic rebound between nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and molnupiravir recipients (RR=1.01; 95% CI: 0.71-1.43). Similar rates of virologic rebounds were observed in molnupiravir recipients and untreated patients (RR=1.14; 95% CI: 0.81-1.6). One study in the pre-omicron period compared rates of virologic rebound between patients receiving standard of care with or without CP: no differences were observed between groups (RR=1.04; 95% CI: 0.55-1.99). Rates of clinical rebound were reported in seven trials, five evaluating nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and untreated patients, and two evaluating nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and molnupiravir recipients. No statistically significant differences between groups were observed. For all these comparisons, the certainty of the available evidence was graded as low or moderate. DISCUSSION: Virologic rebound of COVID-19 infections appears to be mild and self-limited, and was observed more commonly in nirmatrelvir-ritonavir recipients than in untreated patients, but was also observed in patients treated with molnupiravir or CP.

Transcriptomic and phospho-proteomic analyzes of erythroblasts expanded in vitro from normal donors and from patients with polycythemia vera.

Erythropoiesis is a tightly regulated process which becomes decoupled from its normal differentiation program in patients with polycythemia vera (PV). Somatic mutations in JAK2 are commonly associated with this myeloid proliferative disorder. To gain insight into the molecular events that are required for abnormally developing erythroid cells to escape dependence on normal growth signals, we performed in vitro expansion of mature erythroblasts (ERY) from seven normal healthy donors and from seven polycythemic patients in the presence of IL3, EPO, SCF for 10, 11, or 13 days. Normal ERYs required exposure to the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) for expansion, while PV-derived ERYs expanded in the absence of dexamethasone. RNA expression profiling revealed enrichment of two known oncogenes, GPR56 and RAB4a, in PV-derived ERYs along with reduced expression levels of transcription factor TAL1 (ANOVA FDR < 0.05). While both normal and polycythemic-derived ERYs integrated signaling cascades for growth, they did so via different signaling pathways which are represented by their differential phospho-profiles. Our results show that normal ERYs displayed greater levels of phosphorylation of EGFR, PDGFRß, TGFß, and cKit, while PV-derived ERYs were characterized by increased phosphorylation of cytoplasmic kinases in the JAK/STAT, PI3K, and GATA1 pathways. Together these data suggest that PV erythroblast expansion and maturation may be maintained and enriched in the absence of dexamethasone through reduced TAL1 expression and by accessing additional signaling cascades. Members of this acquired repertoire may provide important insight into the pathogenesis of aberrant erythropoiesis in myeloproliferative neoplasms such as polycythemia vera.

Platelet rich plasma use for treatment of acne scars: an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: A reappraisal of the conclusions of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses validity related to Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), alone or in combination with other treatments, compared to regimens PRP-free for the treatment of acne scars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An overview of SRs. The methodological quality of the reviews was assessed using AMSTAR-2 checklist; quality of the evidence of primary studies was appraised following the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Fifteen SRs were included in this overview. Data were from 124 overlapping reports, based on 34 individual primary studies (10 parallel arm randomized trials, 21 split-face studies, and 3 uncontrolled studies). Most of the studies evaluated combination of PRP with microneedling or with laser therapy compared to microneedling or laser therapy without PRP. Clinical improvement (reported as degree of improvement or improvement score) and patient's satisfaction rate were significantly higher in PRP recipients compared to controls. Crusting time and duration of erythema were significantly shorter in PRP recipients compared to controls. Most of the reviews considered in this overview can be considered of low methodological quality due to the fact that several critical methodological requirements of AMSTAR-2 checklist were unmet or partially met; only 6 of the 15 reviews incorporated study quality in their conclusions, and no GRADE assessment was performed for the reported outcomes in any of the SRs. With the GRADE approach, the quality of the evidence for the outcomes analysed ranged from very low to low due to risk of bias in the primary studies, inconsistency between the studies, and imprecision. DISCUSSION: The low or very low certainty of evidence does not support clear clinical decision about the PRP use in combination with microneedling or laser therapy for the treatment of acne scars. Further well-designed studies are required to improve the evidence base for PRP combination therapy for acne scars.

Platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The number of articles evaluating the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA) has increased exponentially during the last years. This systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed at evaluating the benefit of PRP in the treatment of alopecia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We searched MEDLINE (through PUBMED), Embase, and CENTRAL for relevant data. Treatment effect was described by mean difference (MD) and risk difference with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The GRADE system was used to assess the certainty of the body of evidence. RESULTS: We found 27 controlled trials (1,117 subjects) that met our inclusion criteria: 18 trials (713 subjects) in patients with AGA, and 9 (404 subjects) in patients with AA. Eleven studies had a split head design. There was heterogeneity in types of PRP (e.g., activated and non-activated) and administration schedules. PRP was compared to saline injections (18 studies), local steroid injections (4 studies) and other comparators (5 studies). Most commonly reported outcomes were hair density and hair regrowth. It was not possible to pool all outcome data because of heterogeneity in reporting, and because reporting was often limited to a single study. Compared to saline injections, PRP injections increased hair density over a medium-term follow-up (MD, 25.6 hairs/cm2; 95 % CI: 2.62-48.57), but the evidence was rated as low quality due to inconsistency and risk of bias. In individuals with AA, it is unclear whether PRP injection compared with triamcinolone injection increase the rate of subjects with hair regrowth (very-low quality of evidence due to inconsistency, imprecision, and risk of bias). There were no serious adverse events related to PRP injection or control treatments. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited evidence showing benefit of PRP for treatment of alopecia, and most of this evidence is of low quality.

Ultrasound-guided injection of platelet-rich plasma for tendinopathies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated ultrasound (US)-guided injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as conservative treatment of tendinopathies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, OVID, and the Cochrane Library to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the use of US-guided PRP for tendinopathies. RESULTS: We found 33 RCT (2,025 subjects) that met our inclusion criteria: 8 in lateral epicondylitis, 5 in plantar fasciitis, 5 in Achilles tendinopathy, 7 in rotator cuff tendinopathy, 3 in patellar tendinopathy and 5 in carpal tunnel syndrome. PRP, given as a single injection (20 trials) or multiple injections (13 trials), was compared to US-guided injection of steroids, saline, autologous whole blood, local anesthetic, dry needling, prolotherapy, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, or with non-injective interventions. The outcomes more commonly reported included pain and functional measures, subgrouped as in the short-term (<3 months from the intervention), medium-term (3 to 6 months) or long-term (≥12 months). No clear between-group differences in these outcomes were observed in patients with lateral epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, or Achilles, rotator cuff or patellar tendinopathy. In patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, visual analog scale scores for pain at 3 and 6 months and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire severity scores at 1, 3 and 6 months were significantly lower in PRP recipients than in controls. The certainty of evidence of all these comparisons was graded as low or very low due to risk of bias, imprecision and/or inconsistency. Pain at the injection site was more common among PRP recipients than among controls receiving other US-guided injections. DISCUSSION: In patients with tendinopathies, a trend towards pain reduction and functional improvement from baseline was observed after US-guided PRP injection, but in the majority of the comparisons, the effect size was comparable to that observed in control groups.

Epidemiology of Treponema pallidum and HIV co-infections in the Italian blood donor population: 2009-2021.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, co-infection from HIV and Treponema pallidum has become more common. Early detection of the co-infection allows us to implement therapeutic strategies to control the evolution of the disease and to contain its transmission in the general population. The donor population is the target of choice for the detection of early-stage infections. This study aims to evaluate the trend of HIV/T. pallidum positivity in the Italian blood donor population, defining the type of donor most involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of consecutive blood donors' records, covering the period between January 2009 and December 2021, was conducted using the database of the National Blood Information System. The data extracted were the results of of confirmed positivity notifications for T. pallidum and sociodemographic variables of blood donors. The effect of age, female gender, donor category, year, and Italian origin on the probability of HIV/T. pallidum co-infection were estimated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: In the period of observation, we found 79 subjects with HIV/T. pallidum dual co-infection, 3 with HIV/HCV/T. pallidum triple co-infections, and 2 with HIV/HBV/T. pallidum triple co-infections. Seventy-one out of 84 co-infections (89%) were among first-time tested donors, reporting sexual behaviors at risk. The results of the logistic regression show that age, female gender and regular donor status were not associated with HIV/T. pallidum co-infection. DISCUSSION: The transfusion network can provide a valid contribution to containing the spread of HIV and T. pallidum infections, raising the awareness of donors, and promptly referring the donor with confirmed positivity to the reference specialist.

A survey on preoperative autologous blood donation policy in bone marrow stem cell donors in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The high safety of homologous blood components, together with the introduction of the Patient Blood Management strategy, has led to the progressive abandonment of preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) in surgery. Furthermore, recent scientific publications provide evidence about the non-usefulness of PAD in the collection of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from bone marrow (BM), also in consideration of harvest procedure safety. Nevertheless, no conclusive studies have been published yet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood Establishments (BE) and Bone Marrow Collection Centers (BMCC) participated in a specific qualitative survey proposed by Italian National Blood and Transplant centers with the support of the relevant Italian Scientific Societies. The survey aimed at evaluating the policy adopted for PAD in related and unrelated adult HSC donors in Italy during the period 2018-2020. RESULTS: Forty-one BE corresponding to 37 BMCC filled in the questionnaire. Of 830 BM donors, 661 (80%) underwent 1063 PAD (mean 1.6 PAD/donor). The remaining 169 donors (20%) underwent BM harvest without PAD. No serious adverse events were reported for either donor group. In the case of ineligibility of donors for the PAD program, due to low hemoglobin values, 7/10 centers shifted donors to peripheral blood stem cell collection and three centers chose a different donor. Remarkably, only 51% of the PAD units requested were eventually transfused during the BM harvest process. Finally, the iron support policy among centers was heterogeneous. DISCUSSION: The results of this survey show that PAD is heterogeneously applied in Italian BMCC, as in other countries. However, all BMCC except two are willing to adopt a Patient Blood Management strategy as an alternative approach to adult related and unrelated BM donor harvests.

Hyperimmune Globulins for the Management of Infectious Diseases.

This review is focused on the use of hyperimmune globulin therapy to treat some infectious diseases of viral or bacterial origin. Despite the introduction of antibiotics and vaccines, plasma immunoglobulin therapy from whole blood donation can still play a key role. These treatments provide passive transfer of high-titer antibodies that either reduces the risk or the severity of the infection and offer immediate but short-term protection against specific diseases. Antibody preparations derived from immunized human donors are commonly used for the prophylaxis and treatment of rabies, hepatitis A and B viruses, varicella-zoster virus, and pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium botulinum. The use of hyperimmune globulin therapy is a promising challenge, especially for the treatment of emerging viral infections for which there are no specific therapies or licensed vaccines.

Efficacy and Safety of Pathogen-Reduced Platelets Compared with Standard Apheresis Platelets: A Systematic Review of RCTs.

In this systematic review, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of blood components treated with pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs). We searched the Medline, Embase, Scopus, Ovid, and Cochrane Library to identify RCTs evaluating PRTs. Risk of bias assessment and the Mantel-Haenszel method for data synthesis were used. We included in this review 19 RCTs evaluating 4332 patients (mostly oncohematological patients) receiving blood components treated with three different PRTs. Compared with standard platelets (St-PLTs), the treatment with pathogen-reduced platelets (PR-PLTs) does not increase the occurrence of bleeding events, although a slight increase in the occurrence of severe bleeding events was observed in the overall comparison. No between-groups difference in the occurrence of serious adverse events was observed. PR-PLT recipients had a lower 1 and 24 h CI and CCI. The number of patients with platelet refractoriness and alloimmunization was significantly higher in PR-PLT recipients compared with St-PLT recipients. PR-PLT recipients had a higher number of platelet and RBC transfusions compared with St-PLT recipients, with a shorter transfusion time interval. The quality of evidence for these outcomes was from moderate to high. Blood components treated with PRTs are not implicated in serious adverse events, and PR-PLTs do not have a major effect on the increase in bleeding events. However, treatment with PRTs may require a greater number of transfusions in shorter time intervals and may be implicated in an increase in platelet refractoriness and alloimmunization.

Corticosteroids use for COVID-19: an overview of systematic reviews.

Purpose: A reappraisal of the validity of the conclusions of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses related to corticosteroids use for the treatment of COVID-19. Material and Methods: An overview of SRs (umbrella review). The methodological quality of the SRs was assessed using tha AMSTAR-2 checklist; quality of the evidence was appraised following the GRADE approach. Results: 35 SRs were included in this overview. Data were from 307 overlapping reports, based on 121 individual primary studies (25 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), 96 non-RCTs. In critically ill patients the use of steroids significantly reduced mortality compared to standard of care in 80% of the SRs, more often with moderate/high level of certainty; however, in patients not requiring oxygen supplementation the use of steroids increased the overall mortality in 2/3 of the comparisons. Clinical progression of diseases (need for mechanical ventilation, or for intensive care admission) was more commonly observed among controls compared to steroids recipients (in 9 out of 14 comparisons; certainty of evidence from very-low to moderate). The occurrence of adverse events was similar among steroids recipients and controls. Other outcomes (i.e., viral clearance, length of hospital stay) or issue related to optimal dose and type of steroids were addressed in a minority of SRs, with a high level of uncertainty, so that no definitive conclusions can be drawn. Conclusions: There is moderate certainty of evidence that corticosteroids reduce mortality and progression of disease in critically ill COVID-19 patients compared to standard of care, without increasing the occurrence of adverse events.